And john w



No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shet 1 J. P. T'IRRELL 82; J. W. WILLARD.

INVENTEI Patented July 24, 1894.

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MAGHINE.

(No Model.) 3 Sheet-Sheet 2.

J. P. TIRRELL & J. W. WILLARD. 00m CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

T' 523,384. Patnted July 24, 1894.

WwNcssss 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3.

J. P. T IRRELL ,& J. W. WILLARD. COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

No. 523,384. I Patented Ju1y'24, 1894;

(Nq Model.)

WITNESSESV IN E "r1325 gwmm-wz a I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB P. TIRRELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND JOHN W. WILLARD,

OF PITTSFORD, VERMONT, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TOTHE COLUMBIAN AUTOMATIC VENDING-MACHINE COMPANY,

. OF MAINE.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING-MACHINE.

srnornrcnrrow forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,384., dated July24, 1894. Application filed July 12, 1893. Serial No. 4 ,2 1- (N m l Toall whom it may concern.- Be it known that we, J AGOB P. TIRRELL, ofBoston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, and JOHN W.WILLARD, of

Pittsford, in the county of Rutland and State of Vermont, citizens ofthe Uni ted States, have invented new and useful Improvements inCoin-Controlled Vending-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

[O This machine is intended particularly, but not necessarilyexclusively, to automatically supply postage stamps to a purchaser uponthe introduction of a coin, usuallya five cent piece; and our inventionhas for its princi- I 5 palobje'cts to prevent and detect pilferingfrom, and cheating the machine, and to render its operation generallymore eflicient, exact, and certain.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate correspondin g parts, Figure l is a perspective view of a coincontrolled vending machine embodying our invention, portions of the rearwalls of the upper and lower cases being rep- 2 5 resented as brokenout. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on a line running a short distancefrom the rear toward the front, taken through a portion of the top plateof the lowercase,

and through a portion of the coin chute; and

an elevation of the mechanism in the lower chamber. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection on a line running from front to rear, taken through the platesdividing the upper from the lower chamber, and showing, partly inelevation,

and partly in section, portions of the upper chamber and of themechanism in the lower chamber. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of themechanism in the lower case. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the springcarrier for 0 delivering the commodity. Fig. 6 is a transverse verticalsection taken through the upper portion of the chute. Fig. 7 is asection on line at, Fig. 6, looking down. Fig. 8' is a section on liney, Fig. 6, looking up. Fig. 9

is an enlarged vertical section of a part of the lower portion of thelower case, showing the position of the distributing pan.

A is the upper case, B the lower case containing the actuatingmechanism, and C the base. i

D .is the coin-chute,-see Figs. 1, G, 7, and 8. The general constructionof this coin-chute is similar to that shown in United States LettersPatent granted July 19, 1892, to Virgil A. Krepps, and numbered 479,005,a slot d, (Fig. 6) being provided in the under side of our coin-chute toreceive a coin of a too small denomination, and drop it outside of themachine.

a represents a lip secured to the upper edge of the upper wall of thecoin-chute, and extending inward, that is, partially across themouth,the inner edge of said lip being made concave at a and describingan arc of a circle corresponding with the periphery of a five centpiece. See'Figs. 6 and 8. The inner surface of the upper wall of thecoinchute is provided also with a projection or semi-partition 19extending transversely into the passage, and preferably furnished with aconcave inner edge 6', see Figs. 6-and 7. This projection is set at adistance from the lip a which is equal to a line drawn through a fivecent piece centrally and diagonally from the corner of one edge to theopposite corner of the opposite edge of the coin.

e is a lip secured to the upper edge of the under wall of the chute andextending inward, that is, partially across the mouth, and being madeintegral or rigid with an extension 6' along the inner side of the underwall, as shown in Figs. G and 8. The inner surfaces of the lip andextension e e are made concave at e''. A coin of proper diameter, inthis instance a five cent piece, when depos- 8 5 ited in the chute,slips between the lips a e, and extends for nearly the distance from thelip on to the projection 19, then, being supported by the part e, itsupper edge tips up and its lower edge down, accommodated by theconcavities a b, and it has just room enough to drop by the shelf b intoand through the chute. Now if a coin or dummy should be inserted whichis of proper width but a trifle too long, (as would be the case withatwocent piece filed on opposite edges,) the coin could not get between thelip a and projection b, but would extend through the mouth and hencecould not turn to pass down into the chute. It is understood that thewidth of this chute is just sufficient to accommodate the coin.

The commodity case, for holding the pile of envelopes f containing thestamps and surmounted by the weight f, comprises besides its end wallsE, two side walls E E, each of which has one or more horizontal bends E,the bends in the two walls corresponding in height and being in the samedirection, see Fig. 1. By means of this construction the bends in thewalls support the weight of the envelopes above them while the weight ofthe pile pressing against the lowest envelope is not much more than thatof the envelopes below the lowest bend. Thus, when there is a high pilethe pressure is diminished and at all times it is practically equalized,i. (2., it is always not much more than that produced by the weight ofthe envelopes below the lowest bends. Hence, the delivery of thecommodity against the friction produced by the weight of the pile, isalways within the capacity of the spring in the actuating mechanism,however nearly unwound it may be.

The chute D extends down through the chamber A, and through the base A,of said chamber and top B of the lower chamber into said lower chamberwhere itbroadens at D into substantially the shape shown in Fig. 4 andin broken lines in Fig. 1. This broad portion is provided with openingsg g, through which a wire or other instrument can be thrust to relieveany clogging which may oc cur. Near the openings 9, a trap, h, is set,which is not new however in this'invention. At the lower end oftheportion D, the chute extends into an inclined way, consistingessentially of opposite connected grooves D, (Figs. 1 and 4,) set at asuitable distance apart to allow the coin to roll down the lower grooveand be sustained in a vertical position by the upper groove. This way isset near to, and faces the rear wall B of the lower case, and said wallis provided at that point with a window B through which the way D" andits contents are visible from the outside. The walls of the portion D ofthe chute are provided with coincident vertical slots 9" through whichextends and in which plays the free end of the trip lever F (Figs. 2 and4), whose opposite end is fast on the shaft F, having hearings in thehangers F, said trip being held normally up by the hook Z and spring Z.Fast in the same shaft is the release lever or detent F, which isprovided with a suitable pin h, which releases by means of the mechanismdescribed below, the clockwork mechanism H provided with a spring 1-1and sustained by the plate H,sec Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

The trip lever, release lever, and clockwork actuating mechanism orwheel train H, are

not new in this invention, and need no further detailed description.

i is a trip or arm whose outer end lies normally on the pin it. Thistrip extends from the hub of the crank wheel 1" fast on the shaft textending from and actuated by the wheel train H and provided with theroll r. This roll on the face of the crank wheel 1" extends into thelongitudinal slot q, in the lever (1, whose lower end is pivoted at q tothe bracket q secured in the lower chamber B.

I is a spring delivering carrier (see Figs. 8 and 5), and consists ofthe main portion lettered I which constitutes a spring, the portion 1'provided with a suitable perforation I" produced by means of the Ushaped cut J and the upturned lip J,all substantiallyshown in Fig. 5..The function of this carrier is to deliver the lowest envelope byengaging it at the rear by means of the lipJ and pushing it out throughthe passage A. The spring carrier is secured by means of a bolt m to theslide K sliding horizontally from rear to front in the slots 11. n inthe top B and base A respectively. to the slide that its lip J setsnormally a little to the rear of the rear edge of the lowest envelope f,thus leaving a small space between said lip and envelope fora start. Thepost or bolt m is connected byalink m with the upper end of thelever q.it When the trip lever F is struck by the descending coin, its free enddrops, partially rotating the shaft F which swings up the release leverF, thus moving the pin h up from under the outer end of the trip If. Theaction of thewheel train causes the crank wheel r and consequently thetrip it to make one revolution before the spring Z is able to pull upthe lever F, and hence swing down the release or detent F into itsnormal position, in which, as above stated, the pin 71. lies under theouter end of the trip i. The rotation of the crank wheel r throws theupper end of the lever q forward, and hence, by means of the link m,moves the slide K and carrier I forward, the lip J of the latter pushingthe lowest envelopef forward and delivering it through the space A. Theenvelope next above is of course then immediately forced down by thepile, and the lip J, in its return rearward, yields, by means of thespring of the carrier 1. A suitable tension device Z is applied to thespring Z so as to regulate with exactness the amount of resistance ofthe lever to the descending coin. Pivotally hung from suitable bracketsL' (Fig. 3), between the front walls of the commodity chamber and thechamber A, is a gate L. This gate is of length to extend a littleforward from a vertical line, and hence cannot be forced rearward. Theenvelope being delivered lifts the gate as it passes into the space A,and the gate then drops by gravity into the position shown in Fig. 3, sothat a wire or hook cannot be inserted through the passage A, and an en-The spring carrier is so secured velope thus engaged and withdrawn. Anarm N has its upper end rigidly secured to the trip lever F, while itslower end is connected by a wire or link P (Figs. 2 and 4), with a bentwire or rod of the shape shown in full lines in Fig.2 and broken linesin Fig. 4:. This wire consists. of the horizontal portion S whichoperates as a shaft having a bearing at R, which is practically a boxsecured to the coin chute, and at R, which is a perforation in one ofthe plates H supporting the wheel train; the downwardly bent portion Sby means of which it engages with the link P, and with a downwardly bentportion S", Whose end S is bent horizontally so as to extend normallyacross the outer and lower end of the inclined portion D of the chute.

It will be noticed, on reference to Figs. 1 and 4, that the uppergrooved portion of the way D of the chute is curved downward at itsouter end, and that certain wires or straps M extend across the mouth oroutlet.

The movement of the coins afterthey have struck the trip lever F is asfollows: They roll off either side, edgewise, and are guided by thenarrowing chute into the inclined passage formed by the opposite groovesD. The first coin is usually deposited in the chute by the proprietor ofthe machine, and lies in the position of the coin Z, in which it restson the bent end S' and is prevented from any sidewise movement by thewires M. After this coin has been placed in position, the proprietor mayif he chooses, deposit one or more in line behind it as shown. Thesecoins are all in plain sight of the custodian, in whose charge theproprietor places the machine, by reason of the Window B" abovedescribed in the rear wall. Now should a person deposit a dummy coinsufficiently successful in weight and size to pass into the chute, itwould roll down into the way D after tripping the mechanism, and restagainst the last coin in plain sight-not of the customer, who would bein front of the machine, but of the custodian, who could see the rear.The tripping of the lever F, caused by the dummy coin, would swing upthe arm N, which, by means of the link P, would pull up the portion S ofthe wire shaft S, and hence. the portion S" of said shaft, thus swingingthe bent end S' from its position in front of the lowest coin Z,allowing such coin to drop, and the next coin Z to roll down and takeits place. .The result of such an operation would be that while thedummy coin might actuate the machine, the custodian would have absoluteevidence of the fraud and could proceed legally against the opera tor.Even should the custodian not see the dummy actually drop into theposition, he could testify to the fraud if he knew how many coins showedin the way D" through the window, before the machine'was operated by thedummy. An important feature of this part of the device is that the coinis exhibited after it has operated the machine, that is to say, afterthe theft has been committed, instead of before, so that it is an actualtheft, not an attempt at theft, which can be testified to by thecustodian. The coin, when it drops from the way, falls upon a springpan, U, (Figs. 1 and 9) which is sustained at one end by the bracket Usecured in the lower chamber. By reason of this single support and thematerial of which the-pan is constructed, it has a decided spring, sothat as the coins fall upon it, they do not pile up, but fiy off invarious directions upon the floor of the chamber. Thus all danger ofclogging under the outlet of the way is avoided.

The window pane, B", (Figs. 1 and 9) is held up by a spring V ofsubstantially the shape shown, provided with the bend V, on which thepane rests, said spring being secured to the inner side of the case B.In case of clogging, the case is unlocked and the hand passed up topress in the spring and allow the pane B" to drop, when the inside canbe easily reached. When the pane is pushed up again by the spring, thelatter flies into the position shown.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute or coin conduit,D, provided with a projection or shelf, b, extending from one of thewalls into the passage and situated at adistance from the mouth orentrance which is substantially equal to the diameter of the coinadapted to operate the machine, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute or coin conduit,D, provided with the lip on extending inwardly from one side Ico of itsmouth, the extended lip e e projecting inwardly from the opposite sideof its mouth, and the projection or shelf 1) extending into the passagefrom one of the walls of the chute at a distance from the lip a which issubstantially equal to the diameter of the coin, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute or coin conduit,D, provided with the lip a extending inwardly from one side of its mouthand provided on its inner edge with the concavity a, and the extendedlip e e projecting inwardly from the opposite side of its mouthsubstantially asset forth.

4:. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute or coin conduit,D, provided with the lip a extending inwardly from one side of its mouthand provided on its inner edge with the concavity a, the extended lip ee projecting inwardly from the opposite side of the mouth and providedwith the concavity e", and the projection or shelf b extending into thepassage from one of the walls of the chute at a distance from the lip awhich is subthe coin conduit comprising the upper narrow portion D, theenlarged broad portion D located at the lower end of said narrowportion, and centrally provided with slots through which the trip leverextends and in which it plays, whereby the coins can roll freely oif thetrip lever on opposite sides without danger of clogging, and theinclined way D extending from the lower end of the enlarged portion ofthe coin conduit, the grade of said inclination being slight butsufficient to allow the coins to roll down on their edges, substantiallyas set forth.

6. In a coin-controlled vending machine, in combination, the casingprovided with a narrow and substantially horizontal window, said windowbeing movable so as to allow access to the interior of the casing, thecoin chute provided at its lower terminus with a nearly horizontalinclined way located so as to be accessible and visible from the window,and a trip lever playing in the coin chute and receiving the impact ofthe coin, said coin chute being provided in the immediate vicinity ofthe trip lever with access holes, said holes being accessible throughthe movable window, substantially as described.

7. In combination, the coin chute provided with the inclined way D", thebent rotative wire or red S having one end S bent into position tonormally prevent the lowest coin in the chute from droppinginto thechamber, connecting rod P, and trip lever F provided with the arm N,whereby the movement of the trip lever simultaneously releases thelowest coin from the chute, substantially as set forth.

8. In a coin controlled vending machine, a delivering device comprisingthe carrier I provided with the upturned lip J for pushing thecommodity, said lip being bent up vertically from the body of thecarrier and having its upper edge or end turned inwardly andapproximately horizontally for the purpose of overlapping or clampingthe edge of the commodity to be delivered, substantially as described.

9. The delivering carrier consisting essentially of the spring plate Iprovided with the lip J and the U shaped slit J, whereby the portion Ibetween the arms of the slit is adapted to be secured to the slide,substantially as described.

10. In combination with the parts A B grooved at n n, respectively, theslide K reciprocating in said grooves, and spring carrier I I J, saidcarrier being secured to and located under the under side of the slideand with its lip extending up at the rear of and above said slide, saidcarrier possessing an inherent spring, and mechanism for actuating theslide, substantially as described.

11. The commodity receptacle E, provided with a bend E extending for ashort distance into the space between the lines of the main or verticalportions of the walls of the chamber but not beyond or entirely acrosssaid space, substantially as set forth.

12. The commodity receptacle E, its side walls being provided withcorresponding bends E, one of which extends inwardly for a shortdistance into the space between the lines of the vertical portions ofthe side walls, and the other extends correspondingly outwardly, thusproviding diagonally opposite corners on which the commodity rests, saidcorners being produced by the upper portion of the inward bend and thelower portion of the outward bend, substantially as-described.

13. In a coin controlled vending machine, a spring pan, U, situatedunder the outlet of the chute and adapted to receive the impact of thecoins, and by means of its inherent spring to distribute them over thefloor of the case, substantially as described.

JACOB P. TIRRELL. JOHN W. WILLARD.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, J. M. HARTNETT.

